Machine for topping beets.



No. 672,|5o. Patented Apr. F6, |901. .1. H. Lunas.

MACHINE FOB TOPPING BEETS,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUs HEINRICH LUHRs, OF FRUITA, COLORADO.

MACHINE FOR TOPPING BEETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,150, dated April16, 1901.

Application iiled J'nly 31, 1900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUs HEINRICH LUHRS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Fruita, in the county of Mesa and State ofColorado, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Topping Beets, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

One purpose of the invention is to so construct a machine for toppingbeets that the cutters will remove practically the same amount of crownfrom the beets, whether the crowns be justV above the surface of theground or extend some distance above said surface.

Another purpose of the invention is to construct a machine for toppingbeets vwhich will be light and strong and to provide means whereby thecutting-section of the machine will automatically adj ust itself to theexposed portions of the beets in its path and cut the crowns at auniform depth.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveralV parts, as will he hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a planview of the machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal verticalsection taken practically on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is atransverse section taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

A represents the axle of the machine, upon which axle two ground-wheels10 are vkeyed or otherwise secured and also a crown-gear 11. Inconnection with the axle A an inner frame B and an outer frame B' areemployed, both of which frames are of skeleton construction and theirforward portions are more or less curved. Both of the frames B and B"are pivoted at their rear portions on the axle A, and the movements ofthe two frames B and B are independent one of the other. The Outer frameB at each side, near the front, is provided with suitable bearings,inwhich the Shanks of caster-wheels 12 are adapted tO turn, and thesecaster-wheels support the forward portion of the machine and regulatethe depth to which the cutter C will act to Serial No. 25,395. KNOmodel.)

cut the beets from the crowns under ordinary circumstances-that is, whenthe crowns of the beets are not more than about two inches above thesurface of the ground. This cutter will be hereinafter described indetail. The inner frame B normally rests at its front portion upon across-bar 13, ext-ending from side to side of the outer frame B' at therear of the cutter C. The cutter C is carried by the inner frame B andis mounted tO revolve in a gage D. This gage is usuall y constructed asshown in Fig. 2, being substantially in the form of an upright skeletonframe, comprising a rear vertical member 14, an upper hori zontal member15, a forward vertical member 15a, and the actual gage member 16, whichextendsdownward and rearward from the bottom portion of the forwardvertical member 15a. This actual gage member 16 will engage with theouter surface of the crown of a beet in its path, provided the crownextends more than the usual distance above the surface of the ground,and the said gage member will thereupon raise the inner frame B,carrying the cutter O, and as the blades of the cutter pass a certaindistance beneath the gage member 16 it is evident that no matter whetherthe crowns of the beets are two, four, or m'ore inches above the surfaceof the ground said crowns will be Cut from the beets in the path of thecutter at a uniform depth.

The cutter C is secured upon a shaft 17, journaled at its forward end inthe forward portion of the inner frame B, from which portion of theinner frame the gage D extends.

with the gear 11, which is secured to the axle,

so that no matter how high or how low the 'main frames of the machinemay be placed relative to the ground the driving action from the axlewill remain the same and uninterrupted.

The cutter C consists of a spider-like body 21, connected with asuitable hub 22, the hub being secured to the forward end of the shaft17, which end extends beyond the forward portion of the inner frame B,the members of the said spider-like body being provided IOO with blades23, extending outward from the said members or arms approximatelyatright angles thereto, so that when in the cutting position they will beapproximately parallel to the plane of the ground, as is particularlyshown in Fig. 3.

In placing the cutter in position the blades 23 when in their lowerposition will be about two inches below the gage member 16 of the gagedevice D, thus gaging the depth to which the beets are to be topped thathave grown.,

more than two inches, for example, above the ground.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentl. A machine for topping beets and other plants, saidmachine comprising an inner and an outer frame pivotally mounted andwheelsupported, one frame being independent of the other, a cuttercarried by one of the frames, a gage carried by the same frame, arrangedto regulate the distance of the cutters from the ground by the said gageengaging with the upper surface of the beet to be topped, and a drivingmechanism for the cutter, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for topping beets and other plants, a cutter capable offree movement to and from the ground, means for supporting the cutternormally at a distance above the ground, and a gage having a memberextendingr a certain distance above a blade of the cutter when incutting position, the said member being adapted for engagement with theupper surface of a beet to be topped when the said beet extends morethan the usual distance above the surface of the ground.

3. In a machine for topping beets and other plants, the combination,with a wheel-supported axle, an inner and an outer frame pivoted on thesaid axle, and caster-supports for the outer frame, of a shaft journaledat its forward end in the forward portion of the inner frame, a bearingfor the rear Yend of the shaft pivoted on the said axle, a cuttersecured to the forward portion of the said shaft, a gage supported bythe inner frame, in which the said cutter turns, the gage having adirecting member which extends downward and rearward, and beneath whichmember the blades of the cutter pass when in their lower position, and adriving connection between the said axle and 'the said shaft.

4. In a machine for topping beets and other plants, the combination,with an inner and an outer frame, pivotal supports for the rear ends ofsaid frames, a caster-support for the forward portion of the outerframe, and a wheeled support for the rear portions of said frames, of ashaft having its forward end journaled in the inner frame, a rearbearing for the shaft having theV pivoted supports, a cutter secured tothe forward end of the shaft, consisting of a spider-like body havingblades extended outward from the ends thereof approximately at rightangles thereto, and a gage supported by the forward portion of the innerframe, in which gage the cutter revolves, the forward and lower memberof the gage being given a downward and rearward inclination and alocation atagiven distance above a lower blade of the cutter, and means'for driving the said shaft, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

J ULIUS HEINRICH LUHRS.

Witnesses:

EDWIN M. SLocoMB, H. J. WHEELER.

